Joseph's Coat Brought to Jacob (ca. 1633, Met-Objekt 5253)
Original title: Joseph's Coat Brought to Jacob
kurzbeschreibung
Rembrandt van Rijn etched the biblical story of Jacob's sons presenting their father with Joseph's bloodstained coat around 1633. Executed as an etching with drypoint, the print is the first of two states and measures 12 × 8.8 cm.
Description
Three figures stand before a door that remains slightly ajar. On the left, an older man—presumably Jacob—holds a garment in his hands; at his feet another man kneels, gripping the fabric with both hands. To the right, a third figure looks down at the kneeling man. Behind the group, trees and a fragment of door or window suggest the outdoor setting. The layout is unevenly distributed, with light falling from the side, sharply separating shadows and contours.
Context
The etching dates from around 1633, when Rembrandt had already established himself in Amsterdam as a portrait and history painter. Its source is Genesis 37:31–32: Joseph's brothers show his bloodstained coat as proof of his supposed death. Rembrandt returned to biblical subjects repeatedly, often with pointed lighting and psychological insight.
Impact
The scene feels immediate and yet pointed: light and dark areas draw the eye to the handing over of the coat, giving the print a palpable, serious tension.
Technique
Etched lines, bitten into the plate and supplemented with drypoint, carry the drawing here; fine strokes and dotted hatching create sculptural tonal values. In this first state, the details stand without the later reworking.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)